Shake your way fit in 10 minutes?

There’s a whole new vibration in town and it’s shaking up the way some of us workout.

Goga Studios in Sarasota claims 10 minutes on the unstable surface of the Whole Body Vibration (WBV) machine equals a one-hour workout. Skeptics say there’s no substitute for long hours, hard work and sweat. Owner Mark Dulmage of the Siesta Drive location and ambassador for Goga Studios for South Florida, said, “You can shake your way to better health and fitness.” He is living proof, if having a six-pack at age 66 counts.

Kim Dondanville of Sarasota gets a workout on the WBV.photo provided by Alix Redmonde

“WBV changed my life. I lost 24 pounds, reduced my waist to 30 inches and have tight, firm abs,” Dulmage said. He last remembered having a 30-inch waist in his 20’s. “I’ve always been physically fit,” he said. “The difference has been WBV. I have seen hundreds of members lose unwanted fat and inches.”

Bradenton resident Janice Fleming suffered from chronic knee pain and checked out WBV at Goga after reading a newsletter by Joseph M. Mercola, DO. “I have been doing two 10-minute sessions, six days a week for eight weeks,” she said. “My knee pain has subsided significantly, I can stand and walk for two hours straight, where before I could only do about 20 minutes.” Now she is free of throbbing knee pain at night, has discontinued pain relievers to sleep and is no longer considering knee replacement. Fleming said other unexpected benefits include decreased cellulite in her thighs and buttocks, improved posture, her plantar fasciitis (heel spurs) has stopped bothering and her spider varicose veins faded significantly.

Being of the Harder you work it, the better the results mindset, I decided to check WBV out for myself. First impression was reminiscent of the machines of the 1950s that wrapped a sling around your offending area and rapidly jiggled all that would. But my, don’t knock it ‘til you try it attitude said, "Hop on!"

At first I didn’t feel much other than a vibration that started at my feet and worked its way up my body. But as Goga manager Jane Sanders adjusted my posture and position, I felt muscles in my core, hamstrings and quads engage.

What if you want to push the envelope? Dulmage challenged me to try some push-ups, dips and crunches on the WBV. That’s when I really felt it kick in. This was similar to performing exercises on a Bosu ball, which also offers an unstable surface. (These more advanced exercises are best reserved for those with a higher than average fitness level).

Kim Deme-Fulcher of Sarasota

When I dismounted all I could think was, “I’m gonna be so sore tomorrow.”

Sanders said, “Extreme athletes including Olympians have utilized the machine to aid in recovery from strenuous activity.” She explained how certain settings help break down the build-up of lactic acid accumulated during exercise and how this helps to prevent delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).

So, how does it work? “High speeds build bone density and the lower speeds strengthen and tone the body,” she said. “The machines are also used as a medical device to improve posture and balance and may benefit those suffering from weakness on one side of their body.” Sanders herself has lost 5 inches in her mid section during the first two weeks using WBV.

But, are we a nation always seeking a quick fix? Is this a fad? And is it safe? Digging a little deeper I found research that touts both the benefits and possible negative effects of WBV.

Edward R. Laskowski, M.D. of the Mayo Clinic, writes, “Comprehensive research about whole body vibration is lacking. It's not yet clear if whole body vibration provides the same range of health benefits as exercise you actively engage in, such as walking, biking or swimming.” He added that some research does show that whole body vibration may help improve muscle strength and that it may help with weight loss when you also cut back on calories.

So, who can you expect to see shaking their way to fitness? “We get a variety of people from teens to those in their 90s,” said Dulmage. “Marathon runners, Pilates instructors, chiropractors, and doctors all frequent the studio. But don’t worry if you’re a first-timer. We start you slowly to make sure you proceed at the appropriate pace. You can hurt yourself running on a treadmill, lifting weights anything that you do in life, but no one has been hurt in our studio.”

Like anything else, you have to use the old caveat emptor along with common sense when it comes to fitness and say, "Is this the right thing for me.” I would have to commit to using the WBV machines on a regular basis to see what the long-term effects are, but one thing’s for sure… I did sleep through the night pain free from an old horse riding injury to my back, for the first time in many moons.

What does it cost for unlimited use of the non-workout-workout machines at Goga Studios? $49 a month, seniors and students get 10 percent off

If you use the WBV machines at Goga Studios, I’d love to get YOUR take on it! Post a comment. And if you have a workout, place or person you’d like to see covered in the blog, shoot me an email: alix.redmonde@snn6.com

Alix Redmonde

Alix Redmonde has been a fitness expert for more than 25 years and has taught fitness on three continents. She has written for magazines including Men’s Exercise, Exercise for Men Only, Fitness, Shape and Elle. She has also appeared on the Food Network, CBNC, WNYW-TV, among others, promoting a healthy lifestyle. Redmonde is coauthor of the book “It’s Great to be Different,” which teaches children confidence, esteem and self-respect.
Redmonde lives in Sarasota with her three dogs, six cats, two doves and a thoroughbred horse.
She can be reached by email

Last modified: January 28, 2013
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